BBC Radio 3 has begun broadcasting a new series on Irish classical music. ‘Irish Classical: Hidden in Plain Sight’ is a three-part series presented by Irish viola player Róisín Ní Dhúill that explores the work of Irish composers from the nineteenth to the twenty-first century. The first episode aired yesterday evening (Sunday 7 January).

The programme notes that ‘Irish classical composers and performers are often absorbed into the international scene unrecognised’, and asks, ‘just as literature from the island of Ireland is recognised as different to other writing in English, should classical music with its roots on the island also be seen as unique?’ Ní Dhúill, who grew up with both classical and traditional music in Cork and now plays with the BBC Philharmonic, explores this question over three hour-long programmes.

Each episode includes a wide range of music with commentary from Ní Dhúill. The first episode, titled ‘Emigrant Pioneers’, features the music of composers John Field, William Vincent Wallace, Thomas Moore, Philip Cogan, George Alexander Osborne, Michael William Balfe, Charles Villiers Stanford, Michele Esposito and Hamilton Harty.

The second episode, which will be broadcast on 14 January at 11pm, focuses on the twentieth century and features Ina Boyle, Joan Trimble, Alicia Adélaide Needham, E.J. Moeran, Aloys Fleischmann, Arnold Bax, Seán Ó Riada, Mícheál Ó Suilleabháin, Frederick May, Brian Boydell and Gerard Victory.

The final episode on 21 January focuses on music from this century and features the work of John Kinsella, Raymond Deane, Roger Doyle, Martin Hayes and Brooklyn Rider, Eímear Noone, Brian Byrne, Jane O’Leary, Deirdre McKay, Ailbhe McDonagh, Linda Buckley, Donnacha Dennehy, Kevin Volans, Deirdre Gribbin and Jennifer Walshe.

The first episode of ‘Irish Classical: Hidden in Plain Sight’, which is produced by Olive Clancy, is now available to listen to online. Visit https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001v1my